ISN'T IT TIME FOR JP TO SPEAK UP?

Summary

In this four-page article, M. R. Masani urges Jayaprakash Narayan to speak publicly against what he sees as an authoritarian backlash within the Janata Government. He acknowledges the relief produced by the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy, but argues that growing dissatisfaction over economic conditions, public morality, broken promises, political interference, and the Janata Party’s internal divisions must not be dismissed as merely “teething troubles.” He links rising prices, inflationary fiscal policy, industrial unrest, and the use of MISA and violence to a broader return to the statist habits of the Nehru period.

Masani contends that the Emergency arose from long-standing failures of political leadership and public vigilance, and warns that declining support for the Janata Party could permit Congress and the CPI to monopolize popular discontent. He therefore calls for constructive criticism by democratic citizens, especially JP, whose moral authority could guide public opinion. The article concludes with specific reforms: repeal of the 42nd Amendment and MISA, autonomous broadcasting corporations, electoral reform, non-coercive population control, and decentralisation of power from Delhi to the states and citizens.

Key points

• Masani distinguishes public relief at the end of authoritarian rule from growing disappointment with the Janata Government.
• He attributes public concern to economic problems, inflation, industrial conflict, and declining standards of public morality.
• The article criticizes the Janata Party’s internal divisions and alleged reversion to the political and economic patterns of the Nehru period.
• Masani argues that the Emergency resulted from accumulated failures of political leadership and public acquiescence, not simply from one individual’s wrongdoing.
• He uses election data to show a substantial decline in Janata support between the March and June 1977 elections.
• He argues that silence would allow Congress and the CPI to absorb anti-government sentiment and increase the risk of authoritarian reaction.
• The article calls on Jayaprakash Narayan to use his moral authority to assess whether Janata has kept its promises.
• Masani proposes constitutional, civil-libertarian, media, electoral, demographic, and federal reforms.